Diaphragm lever and saddle mechanism



Aug. 7, 1934. H. c. wAssoN DIAPHRAGM LEVER AND SADDLE MECHANISM Filed May 27, 1931 INVENToR. i

Harry C. Wasson ATTORNEY.

Patented ug. 7, 1934 N y* N 1,968,920

DIAPHRAGM LEVER AND SADDLE MECHANISM Harry C. Wasson, Franklin, Pa., assigner to Chicago Pneumaticy ITool Company, New York, N. Y., a corporationof New Jersey i i Application May 27., 1931, seriarNo. 540,491

" 1 claim. (o1. la7- 156) This invention relates to uid pressure control saddle so that any tendency of the knife edge apparatus generally and more particularly to to creep along the lever is obviated. that type or portion yof such apparatus which In order to illustrate the invention one contransmits pressure into motion. It has direct crete embodiment thereof is shown in the acapplication to lever and saddle structures for companying drawing, in which: actuation by a, diaphragm. Fig. l is a side elevational View `partly in sec` In supporting a knife edge on a diaphragm to tion on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Vand actuate a lever, it has been customary to place Fig. 2 is an elevational view from the right side the knife edge upon and above the saddle, the latof Fig. 1 and partly'in section on the line 2 2 ter being disposed uponthe side of the diaphragm of Fig. 1. y 1 65 opposite to that upon which the pressure acts. The embodiment of the inventionchosen for The knife edge actuated by the diaphragm is the purpose of illustration comprises control spaced from the pivot for the lever, so that when mechanismfor variably regulating `the operation `pressure forces the diaphragm toward the lever of an air or gas compressor or pump (not shown). there is a decided tendency for the diaphragm The apparatus is secured to a suitable support, 70 to cock or be tipped instead of to move exactly indicated at A, which may be a part of the comat right angles to the original position of the pressor frame. Upon support A rests a casing lever. The cooking tendency is increased by the 3 having an opening at one side through which lflexibility or elasticity of the diaphragm and is extends a lever 4 supporting Weights 5 at its outer still further intensied when the diaphragm is end. A thick metal plate or cover 6 is secured 75 not uniform in strength or section. Thus the to the top of casing 3 and upon cover 6 rests a flexibility of the diaphragm and changing of dismaller casing 7. Bolts 8 secure casing 7 and rection of the force acting on the diaphragm as Cover 6 to lower casing 3 and Serve Securely t0 -the lever rises cause the diaphragm saddle to Clampthe peripheral pOItOnS 0f a diaphragm 9 rshift its position due to horizontal components between COVeI 6 and easing 7, the diaphragm eX- 80 and in so doing rubbing or friction results in the tending across the Chamber formed by said last saddle guides which are used to counteract such named elements- A Dip@ 01' Conduit 10 leads a tendency. Frequently the diaphragm is Caused from the air receiver (not shown) of the com- ,to buckle since the saddle is usually secured therepresso? and communicates With a' passage 11 in "of units to a standard of sensitiveness and hav- "to. In either case free movement of the diao oVer Plot@ 5 which Opens into a Central depres- S5' phragm is restricted and the sensitiveness of the Slo 6o m tho ooYor plato .belleath diaphragm 9. control apparatus is greatly impaired, if not de- A Saddle 12 1S dlsposed Wlthln CaSlIlg 7 t0 rest stroyed. By reason of the many factors involved, @on the upper face of olaphl'agm 9 and 1S 0f a it is a practical impossibility to construct a series SIZ@ to provlde ample clearance between Itself ing uniform control characteristics.

Among the objects of the invention are to secure free action, sensitiveness, and uniform operation in control devices involving diaphragm 'and lever arrangements, and in general to improve prior arrangements in the interests of more fluid pressure governing or re eeent and satlsfootoryorvloo of any suitable or desired type indicated gen- In the present .invention an underslung al" orally at B which may be secured at any suitable' rangoment is provlded m Whloh a yoke or loop point as to the top of casing 7. The particular Carrying the knife edge engagmg the level degoverning apparatus shown is of the Mason regpends directly from the saddle. The latter pref- 11131501- type and is'fully disclosed and claimed in erably has a flat 10We1' face leSffng 1113011 the dacopending application of Lester L. Collins, Serial pnragm. With this construction the Center 0f No. 356,695,1i1ed April 2o, 1929. since the regupressure iS always malntamed 1n the Same genlating or governing apparatus used with my dia- 105 eral direction and there is little or no tendency phragm and lever mechanism forms no part of to cock or displace the diaphragm sadd1e. Hence the present invention, further description thereof guides for the saddle may be dispensed with, re is omitted. sulting in free action and sensitive operation. A pivotal abutment for lever 4 is provided by -The yoke is by preference rigidly secured to the spaced members 13 depending from cover plate 6. 110

Lever 4 extends between members 13 and is provided with a cross piece 4b with upwardly extending knife edges 4c engaging the lower faces of members 13 to serve as a pivot. A rigid frame, indicated generally at 14, provides an underslung connection between saddle 12 and lever 4. Frame 14 comprises a transverse or horizontally disposed top cross piece 14a which extends through openings '7a (Fig. 1) in casing 7. It rests directly upon saddle 12 and is rigidly secured thereto by suitable means such as one or more machine screws 15. Parallel side membersY 14D intert with and depend from upper cross piece 14a and are rigidly secured to the latter in any suitable manner as by cap screws. Similarscrews and an intel-fitting connection `secure in a rigid manner a lower cross piece 14o to the side members, the lower cross member extending through openings in lower casing 3. Lower cross member 14o carries on its upper face a knife edgeprojection 14d, which engages the under face of lever 4 at a contact point 4d slightly spaced from pivot contact 4c.

- The central point of saddle 12 to which frame 14 is secured is in vertical line with contact point Hence, the upward pull of frame 14 on lever 4 as saddleV 12 is forced upwardly by the expansion of diaphragm 9 under fluid pressure admitted by conduit 10 is in a straight line and any tendency to deviation therefrom is effectively counteracted by the underslung connection and the straight line pull. By preference saddle 12 is made with a flat lower face, as shown, in contact with diaphragm 9. There is no frictional resistance to the upward movement of saddle 12 since saddle 12 and frame 14 are at all points and at all times out of contact with stationary portions of the mechanism. Hence the present invention provides a self-aligning device without guides of any character for transmitting, without friction, to a weighted lever a force applied by fluid pressure under a diaphragm.

While the invention has been herein disclosed in what is now considered to be a preferred form,

it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specio details thereof but covers all changes, modifications, and adaptations within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention: In control apparatus having a pivotal lever and fluid pressure means acting upon said lever through a contact point adjacent said pivot for moving said lever against gravity, a diaphragm disposed above saidlever and having its lower face subjected to fluid pressure, a saddle in loose engagement directly with the upper iace of said diaphragm, a casing for supporting said diaphragm, said casing having a portion closely surrounding the saddle but out of frictional contact with the latter, horizontal arms rigidly secured to the upper surface of said saddle and projecting laterally through recesses in the casing, and depending means rigidly secured to said arms pro viding an underslung connection between said saddle and said point of contact.

HARRY C. WASSON. 

